Welcome to Dish-Houston! Houston's FIRST Green online magazine all about Houston. If you are looking for something to do that is local, trying to find the perfect piece of chocolate, the right gift or even dating ideas, that's why we are here! Drop us an email! We love hearing from you! Blessings and Love!!! Dish-Houston

Well, it is owned by the same company that owns 99 Cents Only Stores. A Los Angeles private equity firm and Canada’s largest public pension fund announced this week that they are buying Dallas-based Neiman Marcus Group for $6 billion.

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Ares Management LLC now have both extremes of household incomes covered: In 2011, they paid $1.55 billion to buy 99 Cents Only Stores.

The two entities will hold an equal interest in the retailer, and Neiman Marcus management, led by CEO Karen Katz, will retain a minority stake. The sale is expected to go through in the fourth quarter.

Neiman Marcus hasn’t been owned by the founding family since the late 1980s.

Founded in Dallas in 1907, the company operates 41 Neiman Marcus stores, two Bergdorf Goodman locations, 36 Last Call stores and six Cusp stores. Its upscale online retailing division operates under the Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Last Call and Horchow brands.

Except for the novelty of knowing that about 18 million retirees north of the border own a piece of the venerable luxury chain, customers shouldn’t see any changes, the company said.

“If there had not been press coverage of this, the customer would never know anything had changed,” Neiman Marcus vice president Ginger Reeder said.

Fort Worth-based TPG and New York-based Warburg Pincus have owned Neiman Marcus since 2005 as part of a $5.1 billion leveraged buyout. They were entertaining private buyers while the company was proceeding with plans for an initial public offering of stock.

Bloomberg News estimates that the two buyout firms have reaped a 150 percent profit on their combined $1.2 billion initial investment in Neiman Marcus. The firms are expected to receive about $2.75 billion in the sale on top of $400 million they got last year in the form of a one-time dividend.

Part of the purchase price will be used at closing to repay about $2.7 billion in debt. But that doesn’t mean the company will be debt-free.

Between now and closing, a new capital structure with new debt will be ironed out, Neiman Marcus chief operating officer Jim Skinner said. “There’s still a lot of work to do.”

Even if the company had issued stock to the public, those funds would have gone to TPG and Warburg Pincus, and the retail company would have still had $2.7 billion in debt.

There are no plans yet to open a Canadian Neiman Marcus store. Canadians have been able to shop at Neiman Marcus online for several years.

Spring is here and that means floral prints, pastel/bold colors, and dresses! No matter what age you are or what your budget is you can look stylish with the right tools.

One of the hottest colors right now is orange. It may seem a little scary to those more conservative but adding a pop of color can be low key or as crazy as you can dream! If you’re in a work setting try an orange blazer or a blouse for just a little pop of color. Just because you’re in an office doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with your wardrobe! Plus it will get you noticed by the opposite sex and even the boss who as well all know is the one who gives out promotions!

For everyday you can wear colors in so many ways such as a bright dress, a pair of wedges, jacket, or a handbag. Don’t be afraid to mix and match colors and prints. Be bold; try a yellow dress with pink shoes and a purple clutch. One of our favorite things to wear when wanting to be comfortable but still be stylish is a pair of denim shorts, white t-shirt, snazzy sandals, and a bright colored bag. Wherever you are going you can always add a little extra pop to your outfit.

Floral is always a great addition to your wardrobe. It makes you automatically feel pretty. If you want to be kind to your wallet, Mink Pink is so adorable and so affordable. They have dresses and skirts with floral prints under $100!! Another idea is to get a sassy pair of floral print platforms. Wearing a printed shoe is a great way to add that extra something to your outfit but can also take a look that is low key to top notch! Kate Spade, Vince Camuto, and Tory Burch have the cutest wedges right now with bright colors, prints, and neutrals that will surly have you bringing out your credit card.

For those gals who aren't that into dresses, jeans and a cute top is a great way of “dressing” up or going out attire with a hot colored top and the aforementioned wedges. However, in the past few years dresses have exploded and any body type can pull one off! Why? Because they are easy, comfortable, and you can make it look casual or fancy by simply changing your shoes. Maxis are a great look for running around or having lunch with a friend. It’s an effortless look that makes it appear like you tried and it was the easiest decision you made all day! All you need are a few key accessories like a great bag, jewelry that stands out, and/or a pair of sunglasses. Not into long dresses? No worries. Try a flirty short dress with wedges for the day or even sandals then when it comes to meet your girlfriends for happy hour slip on a pair of bright colored pumps. Brands to look for unique dresses are Yoana Baraschi and Alice and Tricia, you can’t go wrong! For a fabulous maxi hands down Gypsy 05!

So do some spring cleaning in your closet today! Out with the old and in with the new. Happy Shopping.

Houston's own John Ross Palmer invites you to Uptown Park THIS Sunday, October 21, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for the unveiling of his Fall 2012 handbag line. JRP has partnered with BB1 Classic, one of the best known names in cutting edge women's fashion to exclusively carry his art.

It will a fabulous "Sunday at Uptown" and the big reveal of John Ross Palmer's new Fall Handbag Collection featuring 10 custom, exclusive handbags. As Palmer's entry into the world of fashion continues to grow with a meteoric pace, this new line is not only sure to be visually stunning but also historic and priceless.

Artist John Ross Palmer will be greeting you at his retail location on the Upper Deck of BB1 Classic and personally showing you all of his amazing merchandise--one-of-a-kind handbags, scarves, pottery and so much more! The champagne will be chilled just for you and your friends--all welcome!

Fashion's Night Out was a HUGE deal this year in Houston and it continues to grow every year.

This year's Simon Fashion NOW Fall show was off the charts! Here is the video round up thanks to fashionista rock star Erica Renee Garza! E Motion Medias produced the brilliant Simon Fashion Now montage video. The music is local too!! Paul Couture producinged the track especially for this project, LOVE it!! Check him out along with the rest of Houston's who's who!

LA-based lifestyle brand Splendid® announces a new store opening at Highland Village in October 2012, it’s first location in the Gulf Coast region. Of course, it had to come to Houston! The 1,500 square foot space offers all of the line’s colorful, comfortable collections for women, men, kids and babies in an innovative, light-filled environment as happy as the brand itself. The store’s design stays true Splendid's Southern California beachy roots with natural wood fixtures and a daybed for daydreaming; plus a wall of live plants brings an outdoor element to the space. So VERY DISH!!

To celebrate the family-friendly brand’s introduction to the neighborhood, Splendid®partners with Crafting Community to host an event providing an oasis of crafting, creativity, and imagination for kids, parents and people of all ages. Crafting Community events feature fun, interactive workshops focused on reusing and repurposing natural materials. Specially tailored for Splendid®, many of the workshops incorporate the essence of the Splendid® brand; all natural, ultra-soft, ultra-luxurious fabric.

Activities will include Fun with Fabrics, a fabric and beading workshop where participants create one-of-a-kind necklaces, bracelets and key fobs by braiding, twisting and knotting Splendid® fabric with colorful beads, as well as custom button making. Guests will leave with all sorts of goodies and tasty treats.

Most people know Hanh Tran as the 3D painter who's creations transform at space bringing movement and life. You have no doubt heard of her with recent art commissions including a painting event with Mayor Annise Parker, a commission for Susan B. Komen and her many fdonations to charity auctions around the state. She has found another way to bring her unique touch to her collectors, custom made handbags. Tran is moving from painting canvas on an easel to canvas purses. Currently available online or at Lucho Houston, she plans to debut the line at the October Dallas Fashion Mart. The accessory spark came from the all too familiar issue all women have, finding the right accessory.

"As an artist, I am always looking for something unique." says Tran. "I struggle to find handbags I like, so I thought why not make my own."

After receiving requests from friends to make them something similar, she felt she might be on to something.

"The response has been overwhelming!" says Tran.

The line was called "Girls Night Out" is a series of hand painted evening bags with satin lining. Each offers Tran's signature "H" found on her paintings on the backside. Because they are so different and unique you can wear them with everything from a cocktail dress to jeans.

Houstonian Hanh Tran's work with oil on canvas is based on self-study of the human form, nature, culture and emotion. Her dedication to learning – and a hands-on approach to sharing the art experience with others – is indicative of Hanh's dedication to creating and providing approachable and emotive art.

​Heavy, sweeping, broad strokes of thick oil paint that create a three-dimensional effect are trademarks of Hanh's collections and commissioned works. It is through her connection with art, nature and people that Hanh finds comfort through expression. "Art provides respite and renewal for most people,” said Hanh. “Painting, creating and sharing provide quiet comfort and establish a meaningful sense of community."

​Tran, the seventh and youngest child of Vietnamese-Chinese immigrants, was raised in Houston and learned early on to teach herself and to others to foster personal growth. Through donations of her original art and art + wellness teaching sessions with patients and families of patients facing health challenges, Hanh serves those in need in local and national charitable communities. Among others, Sunshine Kids, North Cypress Medical Center and Covanant House Texas are key community charitable partners of Hanh's.

Hanh's collections are installed commercially and in private residences across Texas, New York, and both the east and west coasts.

It's that time of year again! When the best and most creative person in the Houston fashion industry Jeff Shell, brings the community together so support new, up and coming designers. The 4th annual Little Black Dress Project® is happening Tuesday, May 8 from 6:30-9pm at the House of Blues, Foundation Room and the Bronze Peacock Room . Event chairs are Leisa Holland-Nelson, Linda Kuykendall and Vicki Rizzo (Who incidentally owns DISH'S favorite consignment shop More Than You Can Imagine). This is your opportunity to see the newest, freshest designers coming to the fashion world before they are so big you can't touch them! What an amazing time! Front-row seats $100; runway seats $75; standing room $50. Purchase yours by CLICKING HERE

The event will showcase the Top Ten Little Black Dresses by upcoming fashion design students who were invited to submit their version of the LBD in March. The Top 5 winning designs are selected by local celebrity judges, and awarded $7,500 in scholarships through the Fashion Group Foundation of Houston, Inc. The event is presented by Momentum Porsche, and additional sponsorship comes from Macy’s, More Than You Can Imagine, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tootsies.

The Little Black Dress is one of the fashion icons of our time, inspiring designers from the moment it was introduced by Chanel in 1926, through Givenchy’s 1961 creation for Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, to the myriad current fashion designers the world over. It is in this sartorial spirit that this contest was created to support young, up-and-coming fashion design students from Texas. More info at www.littleblackdressproject.com

And there are a TON of ways you can celebrate but being DISH of course we want you to keep all of those things on your shopping list LOCAL! So here's what we suggest!

First...Stop by Elaine Turner in Rice Village or CityCenter! They have the entire 12 days laid out for you!

There is always the happy gift of FOOD! Texas Tamale Company has been a staple gift for DISH!We LOVE to give Tamales for Christmas!! They ship really well too! Give the taste of Texas for your out of town friends! They also offer brush on flavor for meat and some of the best queso this side of the border!

Gracious! Such a busy evening it seemed we ran a marathon in heals and a dress last night!

Hitting up all of the private parties of the big fashion houses to preview the new fall '11 lines before the big fashion show on the ice rink was a fete to say the least! But we got it done and here are the highlights for you!

We started at the Elaine Turner Flagship store in Rice Village Promptly at 6 pm where we were delighted to discover she's tipping her toes into leather goods other than her gorgeous purses and shoes.

These mini gloves have an ENORMOUS bow on them and the butter leather fits...well you can finish that line. We highly suggest the DISH pink for only $60!

Next, off to the Galleria where the hot fashion houses were showing off their new lines for Fall as well... If you know anything about DISH you know that Ralph Lauren is our fashion god and can do no wrong...well he captivated us yet again with the fem-tux du jour and the slinky black silk drape dress with open back. What classic drama!

We also previewed Farragamo where we fell out over the soles of their shoes! It's gorgeous black and white houndstooth pattern has those red bottoms having to learn something new! Plus their deep maroon almost black rain boots with a 3 inch heal had DISH ready to trade in our Ralph Lauren riding boot style rain boots! GORGEOUS!

Carolina Herrera had sweet silks and military cashmere trenches, classic, beautiful but nothing really new to add to the runways.

Fendi had delish cashmere, daring leather pieces, big flowing ruffles and the most amazing navy blue fur we've ever seen!!! The shoes left a lot to be desired. Seemed they were trying too hard to be edgy/colour-blocky. It was easy to see where the inspiration came from but it didn't translate well at all.

Prada had pretty clothes but their real kicker is their knee high boots with the coloured mary jane design on the foot. They're cute but a bit too fashion forward for conservative Houston.

Jimmy Choo, however, pulled this year's boot look off perfectly with two over the knee pair with a featured zipper up the back of the boot that was so sexy DISH almost fell out of our front row seat!

The real shiney bright start for DISH this season was Max Mara! Everything that hit that runway was breath-taking! Bright colours, deep designs with delish cashmere tights, backless drama and fun fur!

You will see DISH in a lot of MM this year no doubt!

Hands...or gloves...down the most fun part of the night was the dancing flash mob that ran onto the runway at the end of the show! Some of the audience and some models participated and it was HYSTERICAL!